Experts from China and South Korea join the Luxembourg Government’s SpaceResources.lu initiative as high-level advisors

Luxembourg, March 8, 2017 – The Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy today announced that leading experts from China and South Korea join the international Advisory Board, which guides the Luxembourg Government in shaping and developing its SpaceResources.lu initiative which aims to promote commercial use of resources gathered from celestial bodies such as asteroids or from the Moon.

Prof. Wu Ji is chief scientist and project leader of the Strategic Priority Program on Space Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences where he has been a full Professor since 1996. In 2016, he was elected President of the Chinese Society on Space Research. Prof. Wu Ji also is Director General of the National Space Science Center, Vice-President of the Committee for Space Research and a full member of the International Astronautics Academy.

Prof. Seung Jo Kim is Professor Emeritus of Seoul National University, from which he retired in 2015. He is also a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics as well as of the Institute of Physics. He served as President of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute for three years from 2011, and among other important projects he led the successful launch of the first Korean space launch vehicle in 2013.

The third new member who today joined the Government’s Advisory Board is Jean-Louis Schiltz. He is a Guest Professor at the University of Luxembourg and attorney in private practice. He also is a member of the Advisory Board of the Smart Sustainable Development Model of the International Telecommunications Union. From 2004 to 2009, Jean-Louis Schiltz was a Minister of the Luxembourg Government. His portfolios included media, telecommunications, technology (IT and internet), international development and defense.

These three new members of the Advisory Board join Mr. Georges Schmit, former Consul General and Executive Director at the Luxembourg Trade & Investment Office in San Francisco, Mr. Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) from 2003 to 2015 and Dr. Simon „Pete” Worden, former Director of NASA-Ames Research Center in California who already serve as high-level advisors to guide the Luxembourg Government.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy, Etienne Schneider, commented: “I am delighted to welcome these three new members whose valuable experience and expertise further strengthen the Advisory Board. Their contribution and advice will have an important positive impact on future activities of the SpaceResources.lu initiative.”

Prof. Wu Ji stated: “I support the SpaceResources.lu initiative because it reflects Luxembourg’s space history and the country’s spirit of openness. Unlike important space nations, which are pursuing their own objectives, the Grand Duchy can build on international collaboration to attract technological capabilities and innovative ideas to Luxembourg.”

Prof. Seung Jo Kim said: “I am honored to be called to advise the Luxembourg Government in its efforts to position Luxembourg as an ideal location for innovative projects in advanced space technologies. My aim is to make people and other governments in the world believe in space resource exploration.”